Additional Coverage:
- Strikes start at top hotel chains as housekeepers seek higher wages and daily room cleaning work (newsbreak.com)
Fatima Amahmoud, who cleans up to 17 rooms each shift at Boston’s Moxy Hotel, often finds her workload overwhelming. She recalls a challenging shift dealing with an accumulation of dog fur in a guest’s room, a situation exacerbated by the guest’s choice to decline daily cleaning—a practice pushed by many hotels as eco-friendly but also a cost-saving response to labor shortages since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Unionized hotel housekeepers are pushing back, advocating for the return of mandatory daily room cleaning across major hotel chains. They argue that the present policies have increased their workload and decreased their hours and pay.
Workers’ dissatisfaction with their working conditions is evident, particularly following the employment disruptions caused by the pandemic. About 10,000 hotel employees represented by the union UNITE HERE have gone on strike at 25 hotels in cities including Honolulu, Boston, and San Francisco. The strikes underscore broader concerns relating to wage increases and staffing cuts, with 15,000 workers authorized to strike.
Hyatt and Hilton management have expressed their willingness to negotiate in good faith and have implemented contingency plans to cope with the strikes.
The ongoing labor disputes shed light on the struggles of low-wage workers, especially women and people of color who dominate the front-line positions in the hospitality industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the hotel sector currently employs around 1.9 million people, a reduction from pre-pandemic levels.
Gwen Mills, president of UNITE HERE, emphasizes the need for equitable wages comparable to male-dominated fields, noting the undervaluation of hospitality roles typically filled by women and minorities. The union recently celebrated wage increases and improved working conditions in Southern California after a series of strikes.
Despite the robust recovery of the hotel industry, driven by high room rates and increased guest spending, housekeeping remains a critical staffing need according to the American Hotel And Lodging Association. Kevin Carey highlighted efforts to boost employee attraction, with many hotels raising wages.
However, workers like Maria Mata and Chandra Anderson share personal stories underscoring the financial challenges they face, such as inconsistent hours and inadequate pay affecting their quality of life.
The sector’s labor disputes, including debates over daily room cleaning, reflect broader issues of staffing strategies and operational costs, with ongoing negotiations striving to address workers’ grievances and improve industry standards.